The Holidays are here and it is the perfect time to bring out your grill and barbecue great food for friends and family!

Traditional dishes like honey glazed ham, prime rib, pork loin, beef brisket, turkey or ribs make for great holiday entrées. Cooking these dishes properly is key to a successful holiday meal and the grill you use can make all the difference.

There are a couple pros and cons to consider when deciding between a gas or charcoal grill to cook your holiday feast.

Gas Grills

Gas grills are the top selling grills in America for a couple reasons.

First, gas grills are convenient, efficient and heat up to cooking temperature in minutes. Second, natural gas or propane is very affordable and available.

Gas grills also have a quicker transition time from temperature to temperature giving you better control of your heat. The knock on gas grills is that they do not put out the same balance of heat as a charcoal grill. The radiant heat that comes off coals is a much hotter and balanced burn.

However, there are grill plate inserts you can install into your gas grill, that are heated by the gas flame and radiate just as much heat as coals.

Charcoal Grills

Cooking on a charcoal grill is all about the experience of fine grilling. Charcoal is wood that has been burned slowly in the absence of oxygen.

Wood produces high, steady temperatures that burn for long periods of time. Nothing compares to the flavors and tastes that are locked into your meat when cooking on a Charcoal grill or smoker. The high radiant heat given off by the charcoal encases the flavors and juices tenderizing your meat.

However, charcoal requires more attention to the temperature than a gas grill because of the high radiating heat. Cooking on a charcoal grill is about the quality of the finished product, not how fast it was prepared.

Conclusion

Nothing beats filling the neighborhood air with the unmistakeable mouthwatering aroma that says someone in the neighborhood is cooking something great.

The majority of households own a gas grill, but more and more BBQ experts are choosing charcoal grills. Adding a Charcoal smoker like the Big Green Egg to your outdoor kitchen or patio gives you versatility in how your food tastes.

Which grill do you prefer? Are you going to make the switch? Let us know in the comments below.